There are several different kinds of braces available today. The old, traditional metal braces still work great, and now there are clear braces, lingual braces, and even removable aligners available also! Each has its pros and cons, and your Louisa VA orthodontist can help you decide which will work best for you and your smile.
Learn About Braces & Invisalign From Our Louisa Orthodontist
Metal Braces
Metal brackets and wires have worked well for generations, and now you can even get gold braces, which work the same way but which offer a more muted, softer, and warmer appearance. The gold can blend better with the natural color of teeth to create a more elegant and sophisticated appearance. Rubber bands can now be customized by color when they are changed at regular maintenance visits, and you can even opt for designer brackets in the shapes of hearts, flowers, stars, footballs, diamonds or a “Mickey” like you might see at Disney World. Whatever route you might go here, metal braces are generally the most affordable and most effective option, despite their reputation.
Clear Braces
These are the same size and shape as their metal cousins and provide the same terrific results, but they are less visually evident. They have the same bonded brackets and archwire used in traditional metal braces and use clear or white ligatures – little rubber bands – to hold the archwire in place on each bracket and to guide teeth in a particular direction along the gum line, depending on individual needs. Even the wires can be frosted or white to further minimize the appearance of braces in your smile. The rubber bands can stain slightly over time from foods with strong colors, but they are changed at every regularly scheduled maintenance adjustment to maintain the necessary pressure and appearance. These braces are more costly than traditional metal braces and can be prone to some staining, but they give patients cleaner and brighter smiles when maintained properly.
Your Louisa VA Orthodontist Can Help You Choose The Braces Style That Best Fits Your Needs
Lingual Braces
These use the same metal brackets and wires used in traditional braces, but they are installed on the inside of your teeth to keep them hidden from view when you show off your smile. These braces are generally harder to clean and maintain than their front-facing cousins, and they are also generally more expensive. If you smile with these, though, your braces are truly invisible to the outside world!
Aligner Trays
A system like Invisalign consists of a series of customized plastic tray aligners that are removable and typically replaced every two weeks to keep your teeth moving in the desired direction. These are only available for teenagers and adults and might be less effective for more severe cases of tooth misalignment. They can also be a more costly method and require more maintenance, but since they’re removable, you wouldn’t have any restrictions on the kinds of food you wish to eat.
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to orthodontics, feel free to contact White Orthodontics, with a convenient orthodontic office location near Louisa VA by clicking here or by calling 804.747.7447.